A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 19-69, regarding a report on the timeline and process for the Net Zero Action Plan 5-Year Review

C I T Y O F C A M B R I D G E Community Development Department IRAM FAROOQ Assistant City Manager for Community Development SANDRA CLARKE Deputy Director Chief of Administration KHALIL MOGASSABI Deputy Director Chief Planner 344 Broadway Cambridge, MA 02139 Voice: [phone removed] Fax: [phone removed] TTY: [phone removed] www.cambridgema.gov To: Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager From: Iram Farooq, Assistant City Manager for Community Development Re: Awaiting Report 19-69 (O-8 dated 6/3/19) on the timeline and process for the Net Zero Action Plan 5-Year Review Date: September 11, 2019 In response to the above-mentioned Awaiting Report, we submit the following. The Net Zero Action Plan (NZAP), adopted by the City in 2015, proposed that the whole suite of recommendations be reviewed every five years throughout implementation. These reviews are intended to allow for the overall strategy to be adjusted based on changing economics, technology and stakeholder needs. The review process is expected to be supported by staff and be informed by a group of diverse stakeholders. The Community Development Department will initiate the first of these reviews in FY20. The review process will: 1. Evaluate the impact of the Net Zero Action Plan to date, based on existing data sources and projections regarding NZAP targets and impacts. Establish a methodology for ongoing NZAP progress assessment. 2. Review the current context of GHG reductions from buildings in Cambridge including the science of climate change and Cambridge’s climate change commitments; relevant climate policies at the local, regional, state, and federal level; and technological and economic feasibility of net zero construction. 3. Recommend adjustments to the Net Zero Action Plan, if needed, to align the observed and projected Plan impact with the results needed to achieve Cambridge’s climate change commitments, considering both GHG reductions and estimated impacts of proposed changes. 4. Develop a plan including timelines, resources, and stakeholder roles for implementation of the recommendations, including an assessment of the social equity impacts and opportunities associated with the plan. The review process will include extensive stakeholder engagement, driven by a stakeholder committee. The committee may include representatives from the original Net Zero Task Force and others, including: a. Community advocates/residents b. Universities c. Planning Board

Page 2 of 2 d. Property owners/Cambridge Compact for a Sustainable Future e. Subject matter experts f. Climate Protection Action Committee (CPAC) g. City staff h. Community equity partners i. Cambridge Chamber of Commerce j. Peer communities k. Regional and state actors Initial work on the project has begun with a 5-year review of goals, principles, and scope by the Climate Protection Action Committee. We are currently developing the detailed scope of work and expect to issue an RFP and select a consultant in Fall 2019. The project is expected to take up to a year, with revisions to the Net Zero Action Plan and related recommendations available for adoption in Fall/Winter 2020. The Net Zero Action Plan is a core component of the City’s strategy to achieve GHG emissions and overarching goals related to sustainability and community wellness, and a robust and inclusive review process over the coming year will ensure the Plan continues to effectively meet these goals.